ICE has been auditing documents employers are required to keep as a way to reduce the demand for illegal employees. The fines announced Wednesday were as a result of audits conducted during the government’s fiscal 2012, which ended Sept. 30.

The total of $349,619.54 of ICE fines for 17 Bay State employers in fiscal 2012 compares with the total of $175,420.25 for 11 companies in fiscal 2011.

An ICE spokesman said a larger number of auditors doing investigations was responsible for the increase.

“These settlements serve as a reminder to employers that HSI will continue to hold them accountable for hiring and maintaining a legal and compliant workforce,” said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of the local office for Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI.